The Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration, Raising Sand, has been amazingly successful both Stateside and here in the UK. No surprise that the two are planning to pack their bags and tour in the USA and Europe.

As you can see from our exclusive photo, Alison had some trouble understanding the concept of touring, so Robert helpfully explained by making an ‘aeroplane’ shape.

According to Billboard:

The first leg begins in Louisville, Ky., on April 20 and continues to Knoxville, Tenn., on April 22, Chattanooga, Tenn., on April 23 and Birmingham, Ala., on April 26. The tour’s 11-date run in Europe follows in May.

The duo will be joined on stage by producer and musician T Bone Burnett. Tickets for the April U.S. dates go on sale Jan. 25. A longer run of North American shows is planned for June and July, but dates and details have not yet been announced.

I’m especially pleased for Plant, as his post-Led Zeppelin career has avoided shameless commercialism. He’s always taken a road less travelled with his music, and I’m glad to see that the Raising Sand album has struck a chord with people across the world.

The obvious fact is that the tour with Krauss will shelve any plans for a Led Zeppelin tour. But as Robert said in an interview in the autumn, he wants to be a ‘creator, not a curator’. I think we can wait a little longer for a Zep tour.

What do you guys think?